Secondary Education Degrees in Virginia

(found programs from 13 schools)

Below is a directory (broken down by state) of all of the Secondary Education programs we could find, from accredited colleges and universities in Virginia

With new education laws and statutes being passed all the time, it's obvious that education is a high priority in the United States. In the state of Virginia, middle and high school teachers are in high demand. If you're interested in becoming an expert in an academic subject area and using that information to teach the next generation of Virginia's children, learn more about secondary education programs in Virginia.

Virginia is experiencing a rejuvenation of education, as seen by the Put Kids First movement. This movement hopes to increase state funding for education and improve teaching salaries, both of which could help you get more from your teaching career.

Virginia currently uses Standards of Learning for its standardized testing. This may shape the ways in which you teach and even the material that you teach.

Overall, education spending is up in Virginia. As an educator, you must figure out how to translate this increase in spending into higher test scores.

Overview of Secondary Education Programs in Virginia

The path that you take to become a teacher depends on what higher education you've completed in the past. If you have completed a Bachelor's degree before, you may wish to complete a short alternative certification program or earn a Master's degree in education. If you do not yet have an undergraduate degree, a Bachelor's degree in secondary education may be right for you. This route requires you to specialize in an academic area of study.

As a teaching student, you may take a wide range of classes to meet the learning outcomes of your school. Courses you may take include Curriculum and Teaching Principles, Cultural Diversity in the Classroom, Philosophy of Education, Educational Psychology, Classroom Organization and Management, Content Area Literacy Instruction, and History of American Education.

Practical classroom experience is extremely important in this field. You should spend hundreds of hours in secondary classrooms by the time you graduate from a teaching school. This includes one full semester of student teaching, which gives you the opportunity to work on your classroom management skills, connect with students, and build professional connections in the community.

Working in Secondary Education in Virginia

Before officially becoming a teacher, you must get your license from the Virginia Board of Education. They look over your transcript to ensure that you meet the state's educational standards and look at your PRAXIS-II scores. Once you have your license in hand, you can begin working in a secondary classroom.

In this field, salaries in Virginia tend to be similar to nationally-reported averages. Per O*Net, the average salary for a Virginia secondary teacher is $56,500 per year. Job openings in this area of teaching are expected to increase by 11% through 2022 (O*Net, 2012).

A career in secondary education can change your life and those of your students. Reach out to secondary education programs in Virginia to get started.